NASCAR: Updated logos, rules in 2018 for regional touring series

NASCAR unveiled new logos for all of their regional touring series on Wednesday, as well as a few rules changes heading into the 2018 season.

Branding is an important part of any business, including the business of racing. NASCAR is keenly aware of that, rebranding their mark with changes ahead of the 2017 season for their top three national touring divisions.

Those changes will now trickle down to the regional touring series, as the sport will see new logos and a few rule changes heading into the new year.

NASCAR announced the updated logos for the K&N Pro Series, Pinty’s Series, Whelen Modified Tour, Peak Mexico Series, and Whelen Euro Series on Wednesday. The new NASCAR logo is incorporated in all five of the divisional marks, which was introduced in 2017 to replace the old “bar” logo previously used since 1976. The new logos will take effect in each series at the start of their 2018 seasons.

Logos will not be the only changes coming to these series in the new year. NASCAR also announced half a dozen rule changes across each division to improve the competition and the fan experience. All series will now feature overtime as a possibility due to a late race caution, with the overtime line being once again the start-finish line. Meanwhile, Goodyear will once again supply tires to the K&N Pro Series, this time opting for a radial tire that is more consistent with the national touring series.

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The K&N Pro Series will also see changes with their race format. Halftime breaks in K&N Pro Series East and West races that previously required a pit stop will now make those stops optional. However, drivers will not lose positions with respect to others pitting if they choose to, only instead to drivers who do not pit during the break. Additional breaks will be possible in select races in both the East and West, as well as in the Canadian NASCAR Pinty’s Series. All private testing will also be suspended in the K&N Pro Series.

New body styles will also be introduced in the Pinty’s Series and Whelen Euro Series in 2018. The Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang bodies will make their debut in the Canadian division in the new year, while the European championship will see updates to the Chevrolet Camaro body style. The Whelen Euro Series will also introduce a Nations Cup, with medals awarded to the top countries finishing in each race. Burnouts will also be permitted there for the first time.

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The NASCAR K&N Pro Series East will kick off the season for the regional touring series in February at New Smyrna Speedway. They will be followed next by the K&N Pro Series West at Kern County Raceway, the Whelen Modified Tour at Myrtle Beach Speedway, and the Peak Mexico Series in Monterrey in March. Finally, the Whelen Euro Series and Pinty’s Series get underway in April and May, respectively.